DISCUSSION QUESTION NUMBER ONE!

Since you guys answered positively to my offer of Odyssey related discussion, I pulled my thoughts and ideas together and came up with this. Please keep in mind that this is light-hearted discussion, meant to be fun and enjoyable, because we all love the Odyssey. Hope you all enjoy!

If you don't have a copy of the Odyssey in book-form, you can find one online right here, and a list of characters can be found here.

Here's how it'll work:

1. Every week a new question for discussion will be posted, relating to each book of the Odyssey, starting with Book One. This will be once a week or so. I will always leave a public note in my journal whenever a new question is posted, but feel free to add me as a friend and I will most definitely add you back!2. When you see that a new question has been posted, and you would like to participate, think about your answer and then leave a comment on the entry with it. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not make a new post in the community so we can keep this organized. Just simply make a comment on the entry with this week's question, that is all I ask of you. 3. Otherwise, do whatever! One we've all posted answers, we can talk about them.

NOTE: If it's been more than a week and we're still talking about a question, good! We'll keep talking and discussing until we feel that we're done.

If you have an idea for a question relating to the next book, or anything at all having to do with the Odyssey or anything about this little activity, please post a little message in this community and I will tell you when we can use your idea, and don't worry, we will! I will also answer any questions you have, just comment or make a short post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

ALSO NOTE: You don't have to wait until discussion is over to post other things in this community. Remember, you can post anything you want, whenever you want!

Whew. Got all that? Well, congratulations for reading this far. Ready to start?

SUMMARY OF BOOK ONE

The gods in council agree that the time has come for Odysseus to be brought home to avenge himself on Penelope's suitors and to recover his kingdom. Hermes is sent to Calypso's isle to bid her release the captive Odysseus. Athene, disguised as Mentes, appears to Telemachus, advising him to call an assembly of the men of Ichaca, to complain of the behavior of the suitors; then to go himself in quest of his father to Pylos and Sparta.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

THEME: Penelope's suitors

Why do you think the suitors behaved so poorly and were so rude? Do you think it was because Odysseus wasn't around to tell them to get out of his house? Do you think they would have acted differently had Odysseus returned sooner? And lastly, do you think Penelope should have booted the suitors out herself instead of letting them hang around and make a mess of things? Any other opinions or things you want to say regarding the suitors?

Post any answers below and have fun! And remember, you don't have to answer any of the questions you don't want to. This isn't supposed to be boring, but drop a note if it feels like it's getting that way and I'll try and spice things up. :-P Thank you for being so understanding and enjoy!

I think that the Suitors behaved so poorly and rude because they thought that they could do anything. In my opinion, they were pigs/bastards and did not have respect for Penelope. Also, I believe that if Odysseus was at his house they would not have behaved badly because truly said Odysseus would have put to place. Penelope did a right thing just ignoring them and not having to fight with them, because it would have been pointless, they appeared to be stubborn and stupid. Thus, she did a right thing by not giving up and believing that Odysseus would come back.

I definitely agree. No one could tell the suitors what to do, so they did anything they wanted to. If Penelope had tried to tell the suitors to go away, they probably would not have anyway, and she might have made things worse. Makes for good discussion though, doesn't it? Thanks for replying! :-)

Why do you think the suitors behaved so poorly and were so rude? Do you think it was because Odysseus wasn't around to tell them to get out of his house?Yes, I do believe that the suitors behaved so poorly and rudely because Odysseus wasn’t around to tell them to get out of his house. They are eating Telemachus out of house and home and are living off of his generosity without any compensation given to Telemachus.

Do you think they would have acted differently had Odysseus returned sooner?If Odysseus had returned sooner then instead of sitting around like fat slobs the suitors would run for their lives!!

And lastly, do you think Penelope should have booted the suitors out herself instead of letting them hang around and make a mess of things?I wish she did but it just wasn’t possible since the suitors are such scumbags. Not only do I feel sympathetic towards Penelope since the suitors pester her for her hand in marriage and wish to share her bed (instead of asking for her hand in marriage formally) while she waits in vain for Oddysseus' return, I also feel sorry for Telemachus. I feel sorry for Telemachus because the longer the suitors stay the more the suitors are slowly eating him out of house and home which means he is losing his inheritance. But I also think that Telemachus must mature and become the man of the house in his father’s absence.

You have a good point with Telemachus. Odysseus was gone a long time, but that didn't mean he couldn't come back. But even if he hadn't, it would have been Telemachus' job to run his house. I suppose since he realy did believe his father could have come back, he didn't want to take total control right away. As for Penelope, she was still queen, but too grief-stricken to even try to tell the suitors to leave, and even if she had, it probably would not have worked anyway. The suitors were barbaric, impolite, and disgusting, and only listened to themselves.

Thanks for replying, though! I'm very glad this is going well and everyone is enjoying it. ^_^

I suppose since he really did believe his father could have come back, he didn't want to take total control right away.Excellent point.

As for Penelope, she was still queen, but too grief-stricken to even try to tell the suitors to leave, and even if she had, it probably would not have worked anyway. The suitors were barbaric, impolite, and disgusting, and only listened to themselves.Very true.

Thanks for replying, though! I'm very glad this is going well and everyone is enjoying it. ^_^That's okay! I am enjoying myself immensely.